My Dao Companion Is Always Coercing Me

Shang Yunduo transmigrates into a cultivation novel where the strong prey on the weak, in the role of a senior disciple NPC who dies taking a blade for the protagonist. To live in peace, he needs at least a little cultivation. In search of a single spirit herb, he sneaks into a small secret realm with mediocre spiritual energy that isn't mentioned anywhere in the book, only to run into Pei Jie, a crucial, unhinged late-game big boss. For some reason, this boss is sworn against Shang Yunduo's sect. Danger! The boss, a weak rogue cultivator at the third Qi Refining level, grabs a Black-rank sword despite the gap in their cultivation and wipes out a group of treasure hunters in the blink of an eye. He hooks the tip of the sword beneath Shang Yunduo's chin and remarks with interest, “A pure Yang constitution?” Pei Jie stares at him like a python watching its prey, looking both intrigued and dissatisfied, with a hint of regret. A moment later, Pei Jie stamps him with a mark, his face full of disgust. “I'll give you two choices. One, dual cultivate with me to help me train. Two, die right now.” Shang Yunduo: “…” For some reason, Pei Jie is only at the Qi Refining stage, and if he can't form a Golden Core within five years, he'll be reincarnated. Shang Yunduo has several ways to die: Reveal his sect, die. Refuse to yield, die at once. Run away, get caught by Pei Jie, die. Dual cultivate with him, get toyed with for five years, die. Shang Yunduo is confused, outraged, and helpless, but he knows when to bend. He plays along while helping Pei Jie form his Golden Core, all the while figuring out how to escape. But the more they cultivate, the more he feels he can't do without him. [An art student transmigrant, lovesick seme vs. a revenge-driven, career-minded powerhouse uke] Extra scenes: Shang Yunduo: I'd rather die than give in! Pei Jie raises his sword: Then die. Shang Yunduo: Wait! Let's negotiate a deal. * Shang Yunduo: Senior, um, how do you dual cultivate? Pei Jie: I've never done it. How would I know? Doesn't your sect teach you? Shang Yunduo thinks: Even if our sect taught it, they wouldn't teach men how to dual cultivate with other men!! * Pei Jie: Don't you like pretty girls? Shang Yunduo, furious: I kissed you! How could I like pretty girls! Note: Cultivation stages used: Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, and Spirit Transformation. Shang Yunduo [duo] is the seme, and Pei Jie [jie] is the uke. The protagonist isn't an overpowered hero. He gradually grows stronger, and the pacing is slow. Theme: If you cannot become a sage, how can you ascend to immortality?